Tougher dog rules (incl. on-lead requirement) proposed in some areas

[GreenTeaLikesMe]

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/feb/26/poo-and-punishment-is-there-really-a-war-on-dogs-in-england-and-wales

Depending on area, proposals include things like bans on dogs in many areas like kids’ parks and nature reserves, bans on walking more than X number of dogs at a time, and bans on walking dogs without leads altogether.

Personally, I am in favor. I live overseas in a country where you have to keep the dog on the lead unless you are actually in a specific dog park etc. It works OK. Everyone I know in the UK is getting fed up with the endless increase in dog dirt, metal surfaces being damaged by dog wee, unleashed dogs being “friendly” etc….

oh, and bags of dog muck being hung from trees or left on walls etc. as a kind of dirty protest by owners, apparently, unless the council spends a fortune emptying and maintaining poo bins. Just grim.

Most of what you're complaining about wouldn't change if the dog is on the lead, they're still going to need to do what they need to do and if owners won't clear it up nothing would change

Why does it bother you if you don’t live in UK?

Because I come back to the UK a lot and because people who live there full time and who I care about are complaining about the above issues too. Next question.

All the good dogs will be on leads and the bad owners will still be letting their dogs off.

They still won't pick up poo and / or hang it from trees.

I'm confused why you think this would change. Be happy you don't live here if it offends you so much.

But your solution wouldn't change whether owners pick up after their dogs?

I make this some point every time 'always on leads' comes up.

There are vast miles of public footpaths in the UK (and even more land in Scotland) where it's legal to walk but you hardly ever/never see another soul. When people talk about leads in public areas they tend to be thinking of populated areas but many of us walk in unpopulated ones.

Obviously the dog still needs to be under control and, if there are livestock or nesting birds etc, still on a lead.

I suppose it doesn't really matter because if I don't see anyone, who's ever going to know. But still, on leads everywhere really is daft in some places.

Oh, and dog parks are a pit of despair that are only really suitable for about 5% of dogs and that do not afford the owners the health benefits of a proper walk. I walk about 8+ miles a day with mine - no way that's happening in a dog park.

I think stricter rules make sense. Too many people let their dogs run loose or fail to pick up after them, which spoils it for everyone. On-lead policies like you describe are the norm in many countries, and they work well – dogs still get their walks, but it’s safer and more respectful for others using the same spaces. Those who want off-lead play can use dog parks or designated areas.

I can see both sides. Some owners are very responsible, and their dogs are well trained off-lead, but unfortunately others aren’t. That’s why these proposals keep coming up – it only takes a few bad experiences with dog mess, “friendly” dogs jumping up, or damage in public areas for non-dog owners to push back. Maybe a compromise could be clearer zoning: on-lead in busy areas, but still some open spaces where dogs can run free.

I would welcome any sort of controls. Dogs have become the ruination of many public spaces.

Unfortunately, given the number of 'banned dogs' still unmuzzled being walked round here, those of us with social conscience will obey in the same way we pick up, don't let dogs without recall off lead, those who don't care won't comply.

I agree on the unpopulated areas, I walk in them (or rubbish weather in more popular areas) simply because I'm less likely to come across someone else and those you do seem to have better control over better trained dogs and who don't have their mind blown by seeing another dog or person

I think this bit is the key though -
Obviously the dog still needs to be under control and, if there are livestock or nesting birds etc, still on a lead.

Unfortunately the under control seems to be subjective to a lot of people, you should be able to call the dog back at any given moment and direct towards or away from certain things, but of course the owner also needs to respect what certain things the dog should be kept away from - and I find that's at least some of the problem, the owner sees no problem with, or isn't engaging with the dog and noticing, it running up to other dogs or people, horses, livestock, or investigating whatever it wants and so even if it's trained, and would come back with direction from the owner, it's not given so the dog carries on.

Of course then there's those who don't have control over their dogs because they don't put the time and effort in to train it in, so a lead is the only way they can have some control and as someone who's recently rehomed a dog with zero training and a like for buggering off, it's hard work and takes a long time and consistency to achieve it, but it's also hard work to walk a dog like that on a lead, I've done it for two years and it could be very tempting just to let them off and what happens, happens and then it just becomes a pattern because it's easier for the person with the dog like that, but can affect everyone else that they come into contact with negatively.

So I can see why saying on a lead only is the only way to ensure that any dog is somewhat under control, and usually by the time you find out the other dog is not under control, either through lack of training or will from the owner, it's too late and the damage is done.

And I also agree with other posters that the dog owners who aren't already causing a problem by and large, are the ones who will adhere to any new rules around dogs in shared spaces, and the people causing the problems won't because they don't see it as a problem.

It won't work IMO. I live near a nature reserve which has big signs asking for dogs to be kept on lead because of the ground nesting birds and out of the pond because of the water birds and because the flea treatments contaminate the water. There are always dozens of dogs off leads and usually a few swimming in the water. These are generally well behaved dogs with well behaved owners, but they seem to think the rules don't apply to their dogs.

Fucks sake.
Another anti dog thread and this time from someone who doesn't even live in the sodding country.

Another rule that can't and won't be enforced. The responsible dog owners will carry on being responsible (and where I live they are the majority of dog owners) while the irresponsible dog owners will carry on being irresponsible and facing no consequences.

And a zombie one at that! 🧟‍♀️

I have a dog and love dogs. But I think we have so many dog owners who are simply unfit to own dogs. There is frequently shit in pavements and parks, children’s play areas are ruined. I’m not sure what controls can really be put in place and policed. Because the real problem is simply shit people. How do you stop people being shit people? You can’t really.